The true method of curing consumptions wherein 1. The vulgar method is discovered to be useless and pernicious, 2. A new method, by safe, pleasant, and effectual remedies is describ'd, 3. The original and immediate cause of this distemper explain'd, and 4. Several remarkable observations on persons lately cured by the same method, related, particularly the case of Mr. Obrian, whom the author undertook by his Majesties command : with an account of a cure performed on a person of quality at Paris, and several others / by Samuel Haworth.

The True METHOD Of Curing Consumptions, &c.

IT is not here necessary to entertain the Reader with a long Preliminary Dis∣course, or to perplex him with strain'd far-fetcht A∣pologies to usher in this Tract; but I shall thrust it naked into the open World, knowing its Design and Intention to be inno∣cent: Let the Critic Censurists of this Age carp and snarl at it, let the envious, malevolent Backbiter sputter what he pleas∣eth against it, he may assure

himself, I imagin'd what he would say before I began to write it, knowing the Principle that actuates him to be nothing but spite. The impartial and ge∣nuine Reader will see, that I him at nothing but the Improvement of the noble Faculty of Physic, and the real benefit of Mankind, he will candidly pass by the Enor∣mities which may unwittingly be committed in it: So that the Censurist may as well surceass his Scoffs and Calumnies, and believe, that we are more incou∣raged by the Candor of the cour∣teous Reader, by the daily Suc∣cess which attends our Labours, and by his Majesties Gracious Favour in taking notice of our Indeavours, that we can be dis∣couraged by those base Reflecti∣ons that he spues forth from his sordid Mind, which are the products of nothing, but Hatred

and Malevolence. I shall there∣fore here present the Reader with some Observations of my own upon Consumptive Persons; and by those Observations, make it evident, that the trite vulgar Method will never reach the bot∣tom of this Disease, but that an∣other kind of Method is abso∣lutely necessary.

'Tis not the Pectoral Decocti∣on, so much used by Physicians, that will remove the Cause of this spreading Malady. What doth it signifie to dawb and plai∣ster the inward Parts with Bal∣soms, Lohoch's, or Eclegms, and such like nasty, sticking Medi∣cines? When all their Vertue (if they have any) is gone be∣fore they can attach the part af∣fected, what benefit can be ex∣pected from greasing the Whistle with Oils? And what do the cooling Emulsions, the insipid

Snail-water, and other refrige∣rating Slops profit? None of these things are refined enough, to penetrate into the obscure Re∣cesses where the Seeds of the Di∣stemper lurk; nor do they con∣sist of Particles any way adapt∣ed to relieve distressed Nature. Thousands are every day hur∣ried out of this World, for want of better Remedies. Is it ratio∣nal to believe, that feeble Na∣ture is any way cherish'd by such dull and clogging, or cold, spiritless stuff? Are there no Etherial Spirits, nor Eradiating Sulphurs, nor rich Mineral Tinctures, nor brisk Elixirs to be foud by Art, which may prove Restoratives? O the idle∣ness of slothful Man! Can a Phy∣sician, who would be esteemed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉Minister of Nature, content himself to go on in a trite beaten road, and prescribe for

weak emaciated Bodies, nothing but fulsome Hodge-podges, and loathsome Mixtures? Certainly the true genuine Sons of Aescu∣lapius are more diligent and con∣sciencious. Is it not a shame to our Profession, for a Patient to languish under a Physician's hands, perhaps for a whole year, in a deep Consumption, and have nothing prescribed but mixtures of Oil of Almonds and clogging Syrups, Milk-water, Snail-water, the nasty Syrup of Garlick, Conserve of Roses, the Syrup or Juice of Turneps, the fulsome indigested Syrup of Brimstone, and such like Medi∣cines? Perhaps a stinking Issue may be prescribed, or a trouble∣some Seton, as if the Distemper would jump out at the Vent; sometimes cruel tormenting Bli∣sters, and the Head must be shav∣ed forsooth, because we would

not prescribe out of the Fashion; and Plaisters must be applyed, which by a Magnetic Influence keep the Rheume from falling up∣on the Lungs. But will this cure a Consumption? No sure. I do here challenge any Physician that dares to say he ever cured one Patient of a confirmed Phthi∣sis or Consumption, by any of the above-mentioned things, not∣withstanding the are so much applauded and used. Now, what can the reason be, that those Physicians, who pretend to be exactly Methodic and Dogmatic in their Practice, will still persist in their old thread∣bare Method, notwithstanding they find no success in it? I am apt to fancy the reason is, be∣cause they know no better Medi∣cines, and are very loth to be∣stow the pains to find them out: and perhaps, they being so unac∣customed

to search into the hid∣den Mysteries of their Mistriss Nature, think it but in vain to begin, and so content themselves with the Medicines of honest old Galen and Hippocrates, and their followers; and so let them go on, we know better things. I can by my own particular Ex∣perience declare, that there are such Medicines in the World, which by degrees will extermi∣nate and destroy those male-figur'd Particles, which are the Tormentors of Man's Body in this Distemper; provided the Body be not reduced to so infirm a condition, that Nature can∣not be supported till such Reme∣dies have affected what they would otherwise undoubtedly do. There is a particular Re∣medy, which immediatly abates that Feaver which usually at∣tends this Malady; which is no

cooling Medicine, but is impreg∣nated with a Faculty of stopping the motion of those Particles which create that fervour in the Blood, and in time, of freeing the Blood of them all. This is the Feaver which Physicians im∣properly call a Hectic Feaver, or an Habitual Feaver: They will tell you, it is a Feaver in the Flesh and Muscular Parts of the Body, and not at all in the Blood; though I cannot for my life but think, that there is no such thing as an Habitual Feaver, nor a Feaver of the Flesh; a Feaver being an actual Ebulli∣tion of the Blood, which in a Ph••hisis is not constant, but ariseth at some particular times, especially an hour or two after eating, or in an evening; and this Ebullition of the Blood (I should say of the Flesh) is caused by the motion and agitation of

some incongruous Particles. Be∣sides, the little Logic that I have obtained, tells me, that an Ha∣bitual Feaver, which is an much as an Habitual Motion, Ebulli∣tion, or an Habitual Action, is no less than a contradiction.

There are other safe and most potent Medicines, which I fre∣quently exhibit in these difficult Cases, that will absorb those tickling and pricking Particles which produce the Cough, and hereby great ease to the Patient is immediately procured. We have other penetrateing Medi∣cines, which reduce the Functi∣ons of the Body to their Eutaxy and regular Order; and so when the Cause of the Malady is remov∣ed, and the Functions regulat∣ed, Nutrition is again augment∣ed, and the Body grows fatter and stronger every day, the whole Crasis of the Body is me∣liorated;

at last, all bad Sym∣ptoms cease, and the wonted and desired sanity doth then ensue.

Is it not most censentaneous to reason, that those Medicines, whether Vegital, Animal, or Mi∣neral, wherein the pure, balsa∣mic, lively Parts, are separated by Art from the more impure, grossy and dreggy Feculencies, are most effectual Medicines to answer the Indications of this Malady? Certainly, the most re∣fined and depurate Medicines, the very Quintessences of Drugs, excel those that retain in them their earthy and phlegmatic Parts, which are exhibited with∣out any Depuration, either by Digestion, in which is compre∣hended Fermentation, Solution, Extraction and Putrifaction, or Distillation: which Preparations are not easily perform'd, and therefore so much rejected.

There is required no small La∣bour and Diligence to the true Preparation of any good Medi∣cine; but to find out Remedies which do exactly quadrate with the Symptomes of any one par∣ticular Distemper, is a work of extraordinary pains, study and scrutiny, and is to be indeavour'd by none, but such as are resolute, fix'd and indefatigable in dig∣ing in the secret Mines of Na∣ture. 'Tis reasonable, that those who seek Jems and preci∣ous Minerals, should dig to find them; and what Jewel is com∣parable to a duely prepared Me∣dicine, effectual in the Cure of any one Distemper? The se∣veral Remedies which I exhibit in a Phthisis or Consumption, are most refined and purified Medi∣cines, which indeed were not obtained without much labour and industry.

Now in the sequel of this Dis∣course, it cannot be expected I should divulge the Ingredients of which those particular Reme∣dies are compounded, and the manner of their Preparations, they being Elixirs, Tinctures, Powders, Extracts, &c. adapt∣ed to every particular Symptome of this Malady, and not one particular Receipt or Medicine, as some have ignorantly con∣jectur'd. Yet, thus far I shall gratifie the Reader, to acquaint him in what kind of Method I proceed in these cases; which Method I esteem most Dogma∣tic, and I am sure, it is most effectual and beneficial, how methodic soever the dull co∣mun Method may seem to those that dote upon it. I do likewise here declare, that the following Method hath cured several per∣sons, when they have been given

over by eminent Physicians, af∣ter they had used their utmost endeavours for their Recovery. I do also aver (that by Gods bles∣sing) where the Distemper hath not made too great a procedure, and so far vitiated the Functions of the Noble Parts, as to ren∣der the Parts themselves putrid, rotten and exulcerated; which doth not usually happen, till the Patient hath laboured a con∣siderable time under this Mala∣dy, or perhaps received preju∣dice from the unprofitable and pernicious Medicines vulgarly exhibited; this Method will in a short time perfectly restore them: and if they come in the beginning, the expected Success will certainly ensue. To this purpose, as soon as I am sent for to a Patient languishing un∣der this Distemper, or labouring under any particular Symptomes

of it, I first inquire what Phy∣sicians he hath made use of, and what kind of Medicines he hath taken? I comunly find a whole train of Galenic Medicines up∣on the Table or Cupboards-head: I then adjure him, by his ex∣pected future health, to meddle with none of them, but to throw away all those stuffing Electua∣ries, Lohoch's, Eclegms and Bo∣lus's contained in the Gally-pots; and likewise whole Bottles of raw, cold, phlegmatic distilled Waters; also the thick, muddy, pectoral Decoction, and the stu∣pefying Narcotic Pills or Po∣tions, and all manner of crude indigested Drenches: for these are the only Medicines I ever find, where a Galenist had been tampering. I likewise forbid him the use of all salt Meats, all Food hard of Digestion; as Beef, Pork, Bacon, &c. and all crude

Sallads, Herbs and Roots; all Beer and Ale, unless now and then one small Draught to gra∣tifie him; all sorts of Wine, un∣less sometimes a Glass of good old Malago, qualified with the Yolk of a raw new laid Egg, which I allow but to some, in some par∣ticular cases. The Diet I pre∣scribe him is Capons, Chickens, Veal, Lamb, Rabbits, Partridge, and such like easily concocted Flesh, but to be eaten in a smal quantity once a day; at other times Water-gruel, Milk-pottage, Rice-milk diluted with a propor∣tionate quantity of Water, and such kind of Spoon-meat which is soon assimulated: and to gra∣tifie a Patient, we permit him to eat Jellies of Trotters, Calfs-feet, Harts-horn and Ivory, tho they signifie little in reference to strengthen or nourish, as is vul∣garly credited. His common

Drink is either Milk and Water boil'd, or a Ptisan which we or∣der for him to drink of constant∣ly; if there be no looseness, a Glass of Mead now and then is safely permitted.

As for the Therapeutic and Medicinal Part, if we find the Vesicles of the Lungs obstruct∣ed, which causeth difficulty of breathing, we then exhibit some Doses of a curious flesh-co∣lour'd Powder, dissolved in a fit Vehicle; which Powder is so penetrating, that it immediate∣ly opens those grand Obstructi∣ons and soon removes that-strait∣ness of Breast, and Astmatic shortness of Breath, which very much afflicts the Patient: and to qualifie that thin, salt, corroding Liquor, which creates a Catarrh, falling upon the Lungs, with a kind of tickling upon the As∣pera Arteria and Larynx, and

fretting the Lungs, we give a few drops of a Golden Tincture, mixed in an apposite and proper Vehicle; hereby that Juice or Liquor which is secerned by the Glandules of the Throat, and not distilled from the Brain, as the stubborn Galenist would have it, (the contrary being evi∣dently demonstrated by some late ingenuous Writers) is qua∣lified, and the Catarrh stopp'd: But if this hath already proceed∣ed farther, and fix'd upon the Lungs an inveterate Cough, very troublesome and painful; we then give several Doses of our grand Antiphthisic Elixir, which being constantly taken, accord∣ing to order, methodically with other Medicines ordered for other Symptomes, will gradually abate the Cough, and give speedy ease to the Patient.

For the Feaver which usually attends a Phthisis, which is one grand and wasting Symptome, I prescribe an Antifebrile Essence or Extract, which soon quells that spurious Fermentation or Ebullition in the Blood, and con∣sequently takes off that heat which afflicts the Body, and more especially predominates in the Palms of the Hands and Soles of the Feet. But when the Body is, by a continued accumulation of vitious Particles in the Blood and Juices, rendred lean, the Blood being fraught with them, becomes depauperate, and Nutri∣tion hindred, the Members of the whole Body impoverished and emaciated; we then exhi∣bit our grand Antiphthisic E∣lixir, with a penetrating white alkalisate Powder, and a restora∣tive red transparent Liquor, of which we order the Patient to

drink freely and frequently. By which Method, we seldom miss of the expected issue and success; for those male-figur'd Corpuseles are abforb'd and lick'd up by our white Powder; all manner of Obstructions opened by our brisk sprightly Elixir; and Nourish∣ment highly promoted and aug∣mented by our restorative Li∣quor. If a Diarrhaea or looseness attend the other Symptomes, which oftentimes proves very dangerous, and quickly reduceth the Patient into a weak condi∣tion; we do not presently bung it up with binding restringent Medicines, which are comun∣ly, but perniciously given; but we order such Medicines as im∣mediatly correct the sharp fret∣ing Humor, and the looseness ceaseth of it self; we use a sweet∣ning or edulcorating Mixture, and a corrected red Powder. We

have several other safe and effectual Medicines, appropriat∣ed to other smaller Symptomes and lesser Accidents, which oc∣casionally happen in this Malady. But these being the most remark∣able Symptomes, and the men∣tioned Medicines the strongest Hinges on which our Practice in this Distemper hangs; it is not now requisite to nominate the lesser Symptomes, or our less va∣luable Remedies. We shall therefore refer the Reader to our Observations, cited in the sequel of this Tract, for a more full Narration of our Method, and a Confirmation of the effi∣cacy of our Medicines. But this I have in short to premise, in vin∣dication of our Method, which is, that all our Medicines do more exactly answer the three grand Intentions of Physic, than any other Medicines in the World

ever yet found out. The three grand Intentions are, to cure ci∣to, tuto & jucunde, quickly, safe∣ly and pleasantly. As to the first, I can safely say, that where∣as consumptive, Phthisic and e∣maciated Men and Women, have been kept under Cure a whole year, taking the cold, mortal Ju∣lebs, the insipid refrigerating Snail and Milk Waters, Medicines devoid of all Life, Spirit or Ener∣gy; and the puddle Water, or thick Pectoral Decoction, or clogging, stuffing, obstructing ••ohoch's and Electuaries. I say, when they have taken all man∣ner of these kind of Slops that can be invented, and be conti∣nued a whole year in such a Me∣thod, without the least benefit or amendment; the very same persons have, by our Method and Energetic Medicines, been re∣stored in less than one quarter

of the time, to perfect Health•• witness the subsequent Obser∣vations.

As to the second grand Inten∣tion, I dare upon my oath a∣vouch, that there is not one Me∣dicine I use but what is so safe, that a Child of a month old may take it without any prejudice. And tho they are pure, re∣fined, volatile, etherial, subtil and penetrating Medicines; yet they are as innocent as Mothers Milk: and to satisfie the incredulity of any, I will at any time take twice the quantity my self, of any Medicine that I exhibit to any Patient. I likewise challenge the whole World to accuse me, of having ever given one Grain of Physic to any particular per∣son, whereby there ensued any apparent prejudice. But that the trite comun Method is dan∣gerous and destructive to thou∣sands,

is a matter of no great dif∣ficulty to prove.

As for the third Intention, I must needs declare, that no Me∣dicines in the World can possib∣ly be pleasanter, than those I mentioned. And altho in the vulgar Method, such sulsom, nasty Medicines are prescribed, that the Patient loaths the very sight and smell of them, and by taking them, his Appetite is quite obtunded, and a continual nau∣seating and aversion to all Food and Physic too attends him; nay, besides vast quantities of filthy Potions which he is com∣pelled to gusle down, and the bitter-sweet, maukish Electua∣ries, and strong-scented Pills which he is forced to swallow frequently, at the very thoughts of which, his Stomach riseth; yet besides all this, he must, and that by all means, have a foetid

Issue running upon his Arm or Leg, whereby those Members, especially the Arm, are much weakned and emaciated, the Matter and Steam which reaks from it while dressing, is enough to give a Horse a vomit, the Arm or Leg in the mean time is galled, sore and inflamed; all which, if it would any way con∣duce to the Patients recovery, might be dispensed with, but we never find any success attend these formal Prescription; on∣ly the Doctor resolves to pre∣scribe something for his Fee, hit or miss; and thinks the most probable way to hit, is to imi∣tate the comun Vogue of Phy∣sicians: whereby likewise he shall shew himself to be a Methodic and Dogmatic Physician, be∣cause his Bills forsooth upon the Apothecaries file, do exactly agree with the fashion and cu∣stom

of other Prescribers, and so he passeth for an Able Man, a Man of excellent Judgment; when all this while what he prescribed is nothing but that which any one may read in Sennertus or Riverius's Prax∣is. Thus the Patient is to no purpose tormented, and that extensive, noble, and improva∣ble Faculty of Physic is imagin'd to have arrived at its Ne plus ultra, and these rare Doctors have hoarded up every inch and scrap of it in their profound Noddles, witness their learned Bills in the Apothecaries Shops. But on the contrary, our Medi∣cines are so pleasant and grate∣ful to the Stomach, that never any Patient complained of them, neither do we ever pre∣scribe those unprofitable, pain∣ful Issues and Setons, &c.

That which the next occurs to our

Consideration and Enquiry be∣fore we relate our Practic Observations in Consumptions, is to examine the Cause of this Distemper; which if we a little explain, the man∣ner of the Operation or our Medicines, will the better be understood.

The immediate proxim Cause of those Affects which ap∣pear in Consumptions tending to Exulceration, saith Riverius, is a sharp eroding Humour flow∣ing in upon the Lungs, or gene∣rated in them.

The Renowned Franciscus De Le Boe Sylvius in his Praxis Medicinae, tells us, That a Phthisis or Consumption pro∣ceeds from some Vitiated Lympha falling down upon the Aspera Arteria, and so in time Affecting the Lungs.

Both which Op••nions are

much what the same, and tho I am unwilling to thwart or op∣pugn the Sentiments of either of those worthy Authors, yet I shall endeavour to search more narrowly, and enquire whether the true original Cause of this Distemper may not more proba∣bly be somewhat yet unex∣plain'd by the above-cited Au∣thors. I am apt to believe that the cause of the sharpness and e∣roding Quality of this Humour is yet in the dark, and conse∣quently the true Cause of the Distemper as latent as before. It is an easie matter to say Pains in the Head, Belly, Limbs, and other Acute Dolours, proceed from a Humour, as Vulgar Physi∣cians express it; but this is only to stop the Mouths of the In∣quisitive Patient, when he in∣quireth after the Cause of his Malady.

That which I have to offer to the perusal of the unbyassed Reader concerning the Cause of the Disease we are discoursing of, is this:

When God first made Man, he gave him Temperamentum ad Pondus, or such an exact Tem∣perament, that his Body would have been perennial, and have remain'd as vigorous and sprite∣ly to the extensive duration of perpetuity as it was at its first Creation, had he continued in that State, but when he by his folly had revolted from h••s Ma∣ker, he justly reduced him to a State of Mortality; not by im∣mediately altering the Crasis or Constitution of his Body, but by mixing a variety of ill figur'd Particles inimical to the texture of a Humane Body, with that Air which he must necessarily receive into his Lung and Blood,

and also with that Food from which he must expect his Suste∣nance; and thus these Particles find shelter in our Bodies, some of them being received from our Parents, and so hereditary; o∣thers afterward imbibed from the Air, and from our own Nu∣triment; these were some of the Effect, of Gods Curse for our wilful Rebellion: It is from these Particles that our Juices are vitiated, the Vessels of our Bodies obstructed, its Organs impaired, the whole Crasis of the Microcosm reduced to an Ataxy, and the Genuine Functi∣ons of Nature diverted, and hereby a Thousand Maladies ac∣cost a Humane Body. For as there are several sorts of these Particles differing in Figure and Magnitude, some of which im∣pregnate the Air at some Seasons in some places, and also inha∣bit

some kinds of Diet; and o∣ther shaped Particles, either big∣ger or lesser ones, swim about in the fluid Air at other Seasons in other Places, and are multi∣ply'd in some other sorts of Food: So variety of Diseases are hereby created, the Sym∣ptomes differing according to the Number, Shape, and Motion of these several sorts of Parti∣cles, when they praedominate in the Humane Body. Thus from a great quantity of some Parti∣cles heterogeneous to the Parti∣cles of the Humane Blood, or to the several Pores which Nature hath formed in the Body for Se∣cretion, several great Disorders arise; when from few of the same, smaller Indispositions have their rise and origin; sharp pointed, pungent, crooked and hooky Particles vellicate the Membranes, cause Acute Pains,

and are difficultly removed, while the smoother ones glide about with more ease, and are sooner exterminated; some are bigger in magnitude, and apt to create Obstructions, especially when their shape is not adae∣quate to the several pores of the Body destin'd for Secretion, and the small Ductus's, some sticking and glutinous Particles of the Blood are linck'd in with them, and so great Obstructi∣ons made; while the lesser Cor∣puscles cannot so much injure the parts; likewise those that are violently agitated in the Blood cause greater Ebullitions, and consequently do more mis∣chief, when those that are more dull and slow in Motion cannot hurry the Juices about with that velocity, and consequently not hurt so much: For instance, There are some Particles which

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often affect our Bodies which are Tetrahedic or Pyramidal in Fi∣gure, somewhat large in Mag∣nitude, but slow in Motion; these we call Frigorific or Cold Parti∣cles: which when our Bodies are exposed to a great company of them, they sometimes enter the Pores of the Body, and joyn themselves with the serous or phlegmatic Particles of the Blood, and are then secerned by some of the Glandules, and thrown off by the Emunctories of the Body, either upon the Pallat into the Nostrils, or upon the Lungs, whence Catarrh's, Co∣ryza's and Bronchus's do pro∣ceed. Sometimes the Particles quite close the Pores, hinder Perspiration, by not permitting Nature to expel other unwel∣come Particles which were be∣fore in the Blood, and which she continually thrusts out that

way; which Particles when pent in by their pricking Points, corroding Angles, or Velocity of Motion forthwith cause Inflam∣mations; and end in Quinsies, Pleurisies, Reumatisms, Em∣pyems, Feavers, or other Acute Maladies. That there are such Particles as these, and that Cold is no Negative, but a Positive Quality, is evidently enough de∣monstrated by Gassendus in his. Epicurean Phylosophy, and by our own Countreyman Dr. Charleton in his Philosophia E∣picuro-Gassendo-Charletoniana, and likewise by the Honoura∣ble Robert Boyle the Mirrour of this Age for Learning and Saga∣city: That these Particles do not always injure the Body by Obstructing the Pores, and hin∣dring Perspiration, but like∣wise by entring the Body, and uniting themselves with the Se∣rum

or thinner part of the Blood, is manifest, because we often experience the Body to be in∣jured by Cold, when onely one part hath been exposed thereto, and the whole Body besides en∣joy a free Perspiration; as for instance, let a Man put his Foot or any other Member into cold Water, where I am sure a good number of these Frigorific Parti∣cles float, especially in Winter, and continue it there for some, considerable space, and in the mean time let the other parts of his Body perspire, being kept as warm or warmer than at other times, yet he shall re∣ceive apparent prejudice from this Experiment. For either a Cough, Running at Nose, Hoars∣ness, or some other Symptomes, shall convince any one that he hath got a Cold, as the vul∣gar express it. There are other

Particles of a quire differing Na∣ture, viz. sphaeric or round in Figure, exile or small in Mag∣nitude, and swift in Motion; these we call Calorific or Hot Particles. The chief Seminary of these Particles in Unctious Matter, as Oils, Grease, Fat, and Sulphureous Things. That Hot and Cold Particles are the Se∣minaries of several Diseases is to me very demonstrable, but besides these there are certainly numerous forts of Particles of different Figures.

Now this Hypothesis is so far from being a fois;ted Ficti∣on of my own, that altho it was never yet prosecured with that strict scrutiny and diligence as it might deserv∣edly have been, yet it is that which many of our later Authors drive at: For what rea∣son can we give why one Di∣stemper is Epidemic at one time,

another at other Seasons? But because the Air at those Seasons is fraught with swarms of such contagious Particles as are the banes of those dire Pestilential Griefs, as our Exquisite Dr. Sydenham declares in his Learn∣ed Treatise of Acute Distempers. Mr. Boyle also seems to be a Strenuous Abettor of the Do∣ctrine of Particles in his Corpus∣culorian Philosophy; and the Famous Dr. Willis is a great Friend to this Hypothesis (tho I must confess he favours the Doctrine of the Five Chymic Principles) in his Pharm. R•••• or a Treatise of the Operation of Medicines upon Mans Body: Whence have Emetics, Diu∣retics, Diaphoretics, Cathar∣tics, Hypnotics, &c. their various Effects upon the Body, but from their consisting of Par∣ticles of various Configurations?

What occasions those cruciating pains in the Gout, but some of the more Austere Particles of Claret or pungent Corpulcles of some other ingested Matter sticking to the Nerves or Ten∣dons, and so pricking their tender Fibres? The Phaenome∣na of many more Distempers might be thus solved. It is a∣greed upon by all our Modern and Ingenious Philosophers and Physicians, That all Smells are made by the small Effluviums of Bodies, and distinguish't by their differing Figures where∣by they affect the Olfactory or Smelling Nerves, and cause Sen∣sation;* 1.1 That Co∣lours arise from nothing but the different Reflection of Light, ac∣cording to the Position and Configuration of the Particles that are visible on the superfice

of Bodies affecting the Optic Nerves: That Tastes are dis∣criminated by nothing but the differing shapes and figures of Particles in Meats and Drinks, and things offered to the Gust, and striking the Organs of Taste differing ways.

Thus an Acid or Sowre Taste proceeds from exceeding sharp Particles pricking upon the Nerves destin'd for Taste, as in Vinegar, the Austere Taste is when those Acid Particles are blunted and made more obtuse by the union of some grosser Terrestrial Particles with them; as in Claret, &c. It is also granted by some of our best Authors, that the Spirits,* 1.2 Sulphurs, Salts, Phlegm, and Earth, extracted from Bodies, and received for Principles of mixed Bodies, were never prae∣oxstent in those Bodies from

which they are extracted, but are onely the Particles of Bodies artificially reduced to that form and fashion by the force of Fire: How do Pearl, Coral, Crabs Eyes and other Alkali's sweeten the Blood, as we com∣monly tell the Vulgar they do? not from any intrinsic dulcify∣ing property in them, but by their absorbing and licking up those sowre and unwholesome Particles mixed with the Blood and Juices; for we find by com∣mon Experiment, that an Al∣kali will unite it self with an A∣cid, and closing in with its hooks, it will obtund its sharp∣ness and pungency; as may be seen by the mixing of Salt of Tartar with Spirit of Vitriol, and likewise if you Distil Coral, Pearl, Crabs Eyes, or almost any Alkali with the sowrest Vi∣negar, it will utterly deprive it

of allits sharpness, and make it an imsipid Liquor, meerly by lick∣ing up the Acid Particles that gave it that sour Relish.

Then if Colours, Tastes, Smells, and other supposed Qua∣lities, which daily affect our Senses, if the Operation of Me∣dicines on Humane Bodies, and the Cure of Distempers, be all performed by Particles of sundry shapes, who will deny that the Basis, Source, Fountain, and Minera of whatsoever Diseases at any time insult over the ex∣quisitely fabricated Humane Bo∣dy, is to be attributed solely to the differing Figures, Mixtures, Motions, and Magnitudes of Particles?

From hence it is evident that since the Fall Man is continual∣ly obnoxious to some Distem∣per or other, and his Body ne∣ver free from some or other of

these unwelcome Particles; yet the most robust Constitutions, and those that are careful to se∣cure their Health by forbearing those Meats that are most fraught with these Particles a∣voiding that Air that abounds with them, and preventing those External Accidents that may put them into violent Mo∣tions in the Body, I say these persons are less prejudiced by them than others. Thus the Distempers which accost the tender Bodies of Infants proceed from some Male-figured Particles affecting them; for Infants are no more secured from the Influx of such Corpuscles, than Bodies of greater bulk and ma∣turity.

The very Seed whereof In∣fants are generated, is not ex∣empted from all manner of He∣terogeneous Corpuscles, neither

is that Liquor that nourisheth, the Foetus in the Womb abstra∣cted from whatsoever Corrupti∣on; the Air, Food, and Body of the Mother imparting several of these contaminating Effluvi∣ums; and when the Embrio becomes a perfect Foetus, and extricates it self from the close confinement of it's Mothers Womb, the number of those Particles is augmented, and these hereditary ones are soon visi∣ted and accompanied with ad∣ventitious ones; every mouth∣ful of Air and drop of Suste∣nance contains in it some Semi∣nals of future Maladies; unless either Nature by her own natu∣ral Evacuations, or else some of her Hand-maids, Ministers or Auxiliaries, I mean Physicians, by proper, safe, and adapted Remedies, banish and expel them: For tho Nature for the most

part doth throw off these trou∣blesome guests thro her proper Emunctories with the Excre∣mentitious Parts unfit for Nou∣rishment; and this successively as fast as they enter the Body; yet oft times, especially in such delicate Bodies, Nature can∣not but be too impotent to en∣gage with them all; being fre∣quently diverted by some exter∣nal Accidents and Irregularities, from performing her expected Functions; hence several Hete∣rogeneous Particles throng in upon the poor Babe, and affect it according to their Figures, Motions, &c. and if special care be not taken in applying fit Remedies, the Disease soon sur∣passeth the Skill of the ablest Physician to cure it.

They Seminalities of all Dis∣eases consisting in some kind of Particles, Consumptions must

proceed from a particular sort, or perhaps more than one sort of Inimical Corpuscles affecting the Lungs, so that the prime and original Cause, which is ne∣vertheless the immediate Cause of a Consumption, is here more than probably demonstrated; for that a Phthisis or Consumpti∣on proceeds from some Particles either Vitiating or Impeding some Functions of the Body is e∣vident from the contagion and spreading Quality of the Dis∣ease, and from its being Ende∣mic.

There is no one Distemper belonging to Mans Body (the Plague, Pox, and Leprosie ex∣cepted) so contagious or catch∣ing as a Consumption; for we see oftentimes, if a healthful, lusty, vigorous Man marry a Consum∣ptive Woman, he shall hardly live with her many years with∣out

some Symptomes of the same Distemper in his own Body: Nay if we will believe Credible Authors, the wearing the Cloaths of Consumptive Bo∣dies, drinking after them, or sitting near them, and so draw∣ing in some of their Breath, hath been the occasion of several per∣sons falling into this lingring Malady; and which way this can be imagined to be done, un∣less the Doctrine of Particles be admitted, I cannot conjecture. This therefore (by the way) may caution us how indiscreetly those persons act, who permit young Children to lie with old or consumptive persons, and how dangerous and destructive it is to the Bodies of those ten∣der Creatures. Those Morbi∣fic Particles which swarm in the Diseased Bodies of Consumptive Persons, wherewith their very

Breath is contaminated, and which fly out thro the Pores of the Body in perspirati∣on, do enter the Bodies of those who do accompany them, and so create the same Effects in their new Tabernacles. What other Reason can be alledged why this Distemper should be more frequent and endemic in some Countries than in others, but because those Particles which occasion it,* 1.3 nfluence some particular Climate more than others; being some malign Steams from the Earth or Sea, or else some Venomous Effluvia brought by the Wind from some remote parts of the World. 'Tis by these pernici∣ous Particles that the Noble Ferment of the Stomach is de∣praved and turned into another spurious Ferment, and hereby

the Foundation of the Distem∣per is first laid; for no sooner is this unparallelled Ferment of the Stomach vitiated, but the Nutritive Juice receives such different Alterations from what it should be, as that it is de∣prived of its Balsamic Nourish∣ing Faculty: For the Chyle be∣ing vitiated in the Stomach, becomes the Seminary of this Disease, which being transmit∣ted, thus corrupted and depra∣ved, into the other Digestions, draws them likewise into con∣sent, and so vitiates one Dige∣stion after another until the Dis∣ease it self appears in its full di∣mensions and latitude of Sym∣ptomes. It is by these spurious Particles that the Succus Pan∣creaticus, or Pancreatic Juice, is also vitiated, which is another step to this Distemper; from hence likewise the Chyle be∣comes

Crass and Viscid, and cannot pass thro the Glan∣dules of the Mesentery; which Glandules are by Nature insti∣tuted for Strainers to Se•••••••• that Liqoor from its Foeces or Excrements: Hereby these Glandules become hard and knotty, as it is manifest in the Diffection of Bodies defunct of this Malady; so that now only the more thin and serous parts of the Chyle are transmit∣ted into the Thoracic Duct, and thence to the Heart; hence the Blood in time must needs be de∣pauperated for want of a sup∣ply of better Chyle, and here∣by a Marasmus or Consumpti∣on must needs ensue. 'Tis from some of these Mortal Particles that all Rheums and Catarrhs have their origin, and that a continued Catarrh doth at last produce a Phthisis and Tabid

Consumption is confirmed by the woful Experience of Thou∣sands, who at first slighting this small primary Symptome, it hath quickly terminated in a Cough difficult enough to Cure. That a Catarrh is created from the mixture of Frigorific or Cold Particles, which Parti∣cles are very destructive to Mans Health, is evident, be∣cause upon the taking of great Cold, a Rheum or Catarrh doth most usually ensue, as like∣wise a Cough and Hoarsness; this may caution us to endea∣vour to avoid Cold, as very destructive to Humane Sanity; for these cold Pyramidal little Bodies, mixing themselves with the more thin and serous parts of the Blood, are by the endeavours of Nature to free the Blood of what is Heteroge∣neous or Dissimular to it,

thrown off upon the Glandules of the Throat; this falling up∣on the Larynx already alienated by the in jury of Cold, is some∣times turned into a copious Mu∣cous Matter frequently expelled by Coughing▪ But if the Layrnx happen to be debilitated thro a continual Defluxion there∣of, then it falls upon the Lungs

where it perverts the Alimenta∣ry Juice of that part, turns it in∣to a putrelaginous corrupt Matter, which as wormed up by the force of Coughing, still increaseth as fast; so that at length fretting upon the spon∣gy substance of the Lungs, it creates an Ulcer in the Lungs, and hereby renders the Di∣stemper for ever Incurable.

Hence we gather how dangerous a thing it is to neglect to seek a present Remedy for a Catarrh or Defluxion of Rheum, which

being neglected, frequently throws the Patient e're he is a∣ware into the profound Lake of a confirmed Tabes: We may likewise hence take notice how ridiculous the Opinion of the Galenists is concerning the Cause and Origin of a Catarrh, viz. That it proceeds from Va∣pours ascending from the Sto∣mach, which being condensed by the coldness of the Brain, Di∣stil thro the small Channel of the Pallat down the Wind-pipe to the Lungs; for if we con∣sult Anatomy, we sall find that the structure of those parts is such as can never admit of a∣ny Defluxion or Distillation of Rheum from the Brain, as is exquisitely manifested by that Eminent Physician Dr. Richard Lower in his Dissertatio de Origine Catarrhi, at the end of his Book, De Corde; be∣sides

we deny that Vapors arise from the Digestion of Meat in the Stomach, so as to reach the Brain; for as soon as the Sto∣mach hath received its Food or Pabulum, its upper Mouth or Orifice is immediately shut, and the Aesophagus closeth it self together, so that no Vapors can pass it. Innumerable are the Absurdities which attend this Opinion of Vapors; for then no sooner would the Meat and Drink be taken into the Stomach, but the heat and moisture would forthwith send up Vapors; we should there∣upon be constantly troubled with Catarrhs; also the most sound, strong Stomachs, whose heat is lively, would certainly always breed Catarrhs, because of sending up most powerful Vapors from the Liquld Parts of Food: Also in Cold Winter,

from the forcible injury of the cold Air working upon the Brain, and causing a cold Di∣stemper there; we should ne∣ver be kept free from a Catarrh:

Not to say what a constant dropping would there be at the Pipe of the Alembick the Nose, enough to fill a Receiver in a little time, and to make every one go with one hung at his Nose.

Also it would follow that all Defluxions of Rheums should have but one taste, and that insipid too, be∣cause Vapors, from whatsoever things they may ascend, yet when they are condensed, be∣come Elementary simple Water: Whence therefore according to their Doctrine should the vari∣ety of Consistence and Tastes proceed; that one should be salt, another sharp and fretting; one thin, another more thick?

So that this Doctrine of Vapors is on every side beset with Dif∣ficulties and Absurdities.

I might now at large expli∣cate how and which way these Particles, Enemies to Mans Body, do predominate over, and oft-times conquer several noble Functions of the Body; but the necessity of contracting my Discourse within the limits of a brief Tract will not permit so great a Digression: The cause of this grand Evil being thus explicated, it follows that those Medicines are most rational∣ly and dogmatically used, which consist of such Particles as are most contrary and opposite in Figure to those injurious Parti∣cles which are the bane of this grief; or such that are so figured as that they may absorb and swallow up the Morbific Parti∣cles by linking their Hooks

with the Angels of the perni∣cious Particles. They must likewise be penetrating, other∣wise they will not reach the Di∣stemper, nor be nimble enough for their desired prey, but if a brisk penetrating Medicine, con∣sisting of such shapes as are men∣tioned be exhibited, the Par∣ticles of this Medicine, will like so many little Ferretts pass in∣to all the smaller Vessels and narrow Passages, and rout the Enemies out of their holes: Such as these are the Medicines which I have already menti∣oned.

Having proceeded thus far, it might be expected I should treat more fully of the Secondary Causes of this Distemper, and likewise discourse of the parti∣cular Symptomes of it; as like∣wise the kinds and sorts of Con∣sumptions, and their particular

differences; also the Signs, both Diagnostic and Prognostic, but this being a Work besides our present Design, we shall refer our Reader to those Authors that have wrote concerning them, till leisure will permit me to write a more full and par∣ticular Discourse of this Malady; which perhaps I may hereafter do if God spare life and health. Therefore now to evince and de∣monstrate the truth and reality of what he have asserted con∣cerning our Method of Curing this Distemper, and the effectu∣al Virtue of our Medicines; I thought it necessary to publish these Observations, which are no Fictions of my own, I being able to produce sufficient Testi∣monies to assert the reality of every one of them, and will readily do it to satisfie any scru∣pulous or incredulous person.

Observation the First.

THe Case of Mr. Obrian being very Remarkable, and dif∣fering ways related, it will not he here amiss to give the Reader a faithful account of all the par∣ticular Circumstances of it, which was as follows:

About the middle of April last, after I had Cured several persons of Consumptions, two of which had some Relation to the Court, His Majesty came to be informed of this my success by His Royal Highness, who had first had Intimation of it; whereupon his Majesty being immediately willing to satisfie his Royal Curiosity in this thing, Ordered me to attend the Court, and desired that Worthy and Deserving Gentleman Collonel

Oglethorp (then altogether a Stranger to me, tho since my very good Friend) to find out some person about the Court in a deep Consumption, for me to make an Experiment upon; whereupon after some search the Collonel heard of Mr. Ken∣nedy Obrian a Gentleman of the Guards, who had been languish∣ing above a year, in no Capa∣city of performing his Duty, and was never expected to be seen upon the Guards again; be∣ing so impotent and infirm, that he could hardly stand or walk; extreamly wasted and emaci∣ated, perplexed with an inve∣terate Cough, and a constant Tickling Rheum, a continual Wheazing and Shortness of Breath; and cold, faint, fre∣quent Sweats, with a burning Feaver attending all these Sym∣ptomes; his Vrine was high

Coloured, without any Sedi∣ment, he constantly complain∣ed of a great straitness and op∣pression at his Breast: While in this Condition he had con∣sulted three Physicians succes∣sively one after another, but received no apparent Relief or Benefit; in these direful Cir∣cumstances, and while attend∣ed with all these discouraging Symptomes, he was brought be∣fore the King, his Majesty ex∣amined his Condition, and was soon satisfied that his Distemper was a deep Consumption which Distemper was then legible e∣nough in his Looks and Counte∣nance. I being then present, was ordered by his Majesty to undertake him, and to endea∣vour his Cure; the Nobility that were there looking upon him as a Dying Man, and deeming it utterly impossible,

I should ever recover him, ad∣mired at my readiness to under∣take him; and some of them disswaded me from ventring my own Credit in undertaking a person so probably irrecoverable; however, tho in deed I could not but be doubtful of his Cure, his Condition being so apparently disperate, yet because His Majesty was so graciousin condescending to take notice of me, and had or∣dered the Patient to be brought to White-hall on purpose to grati∣fy his Royal Pleasure, I thought I could ••ot refuse to undertake him; besides His Majesties Com∣mand obliged me at least to en∣deavour his Cure: and hereupon I resolved to do my utmost: I then took him home with me to my House in the Country; and the first thing I prescribed him was our Antifebrile Extract, mixed with some of our White. Alkali∣zate

Powder, and made up into Pills, because he chose to take it in that Form; of these he took Six Night and Morning, whereby his Feaver, which is called the Hectic, in three days time very much abated; I still continued to exhibit the same Medicine, because I found his Strength and Spirits were most wasted by the continuance of this Feaver; and because I ho∣ped when this troublesome Sym∣ptome was removed, the o∣thers would yield with less Re∣luctancy; in a Weeks time his Feaver was quite gone, his Tem∣per appearing to be as mode∣rate as a healthful Mans; by this I was encouraged to hope his other Symptomes would shortly disappear as well as this; to which end I prescribed him every Night some drops of our Grand Antiphthisic Elixir in a

proper Vehicle: likewise or∣dered him every Morning a Glass of good old Malago with a new laid Egg, without any suspicion that this would occasi∣on a return of his Feaver, this Feaver not proceeding original∣ly from heat, or the taking of hot things, but from the mix∣ture of some putrid Particles with the Blood, whereby a spu∣rious Fermentation or Ebulition of that Crimson Liquor is cre∣ated; the Diet I assign'd him was Chickens, Rabits, Veal, Lamb, and Meats of easie Di∣gestion; his ordinary Drink was our Restorative Liquor, now and then allowing him a Glass of Ale; by this means I perceived he gathered strength, for by the help of our Grand Elixir his Cough gradually de∣creased, and the Tickling left him; his Muscles now began to

plump, and Calfs of his Leggs to rise, and he was supply'd with a continual addition both of Strength and Flesh every day: The shortness of his Breath, and straitness of his Breast was now hardly per∣ceivable. To finish and perfect this Cure, I prescribed him Three Doses of our White Alka∣lizate Powder every day, to be taken dissolv'd in a Glass of our Restorative Liquor; here∣by the residue of those malign Particles, which remained in his Body, were absorb'd and lick'd up; he continued ten days to take these Powders. So that in five Weeks by the Blessing of Almighty God he was perfectly restored to his former health; he was now able to walk and run, jump and ride, and was fit for any kind of Exercise; in so much that

all that saw him admired at this so great and so sudden Alte∣ration; he being thus restored beyond expectation. I first brought him to Collonel Ogle∣thorp's House, who not a little surprized, rejoyced at his, speedy Recovery: We then, went to Windsor (the Court being then there) to persent him to the King, and to pre∣vent suspicion that he was only patch'd and not perfectly Cured, the Collonel resolved to make this Experiment, he walkt a Mile or two in the Park at Windsor, as fast as he could well go, after that to the Ferry, to wait on the Duke of York, who was then going to London, designing to take Coach on the other side the Wa∣ter; from the Ferry the Collo∣nel sent Mr. Obrian to the Ca∣stle on a Message for the Duke;

pretending great hast, Mr Obri∣an being ignorant of the Design, and imagining the business to be of extraordinary moment and consequence, did run very swiftly to the Castle, and back to the Ferry without resting, which is computed two long Miles; immediately after this, he was presented to the King in his Majesties Bed-Chamber, his Majesty being then not perfect∣ly recovered from a Fit of Ill∣ness; the Collonel did there ac∣quaint his Majesty what Me∣thod he had taken to try whe∣ther be was sound; and his Ma∣jesty did hereupon declare him∣self fully satisfi'd, and in se∣veral kind Expressions did mani∣fest his Royal Favour to me.

'Tis now half a year since Mr. Obrian was Cured, and he still continues in perfect Health, and performs his Duty upon

the Guards, tho some have ma∣litiously reported, he after∣wards relapsed and died; which is so contrary to all appearance of Truth, that he hath hardly been indisposed since, tho he lost a Considerable Quantity of Blood, not long ago by a Wound which he receiv'd in a Quarrel. He is likewise ready to testify the Truth of what I have here Related; and not only he, but Hundreds that were Eye-witnes∣ses of his deplorable and de∣sperate Condition when I first undertook him. Thus I have concisely Related the whole Story.

Observation the Second.

THe next Case which I design to relate, is a Cure very lately performed upon a Person of Quality at Paris.

On the 15th of September last I was sent for to Paris to visit a Person of Quality there; and tho I was somewhat averse to the thoughts of so tedious a Journey, and unwilling to leave my Patients here for so long a time, yet the urgent perswasi∣ons of a Person in England, whom I esteem and honour, to∣gether with the promise of a very considerable Reward, pre∣vailed with me to go: the Per∣son I went to was about five and thirty years of Age, a Man of a Melancholy Complexion, who had about two years ago been visited with a Quartan Ague, for which he made use of vari∣ous Remedies to no purpose, on∣ly now and then upon taking a good Quantity of the Pulvis Patrum or Jesuits Powder, he would miss three or four Fits, but it alwayes returned, and

that more violently than before; at last he being weary with tampering, resolved to let it have its Course; and take no∣thing more to prevent it: thus his Ague continued to afflict him every third day, till a full Year and a Quarter, from the time that it first accosted him, was expired, and then it went off of it self. But in this time his Juices were so vitiated and his Blood reduced to that degree of Sourness, that a worse Di∣stemper succeeds his Ague; for now Myriads of unwholesome Particles are accumulated in his Body, whole Troops of Malign Corpuscles are now con∣catenated and linkt toge••her in every Vein, Artery; and Nerve; whereby he became extreamly debilitated: and that which in∣deed much contributed to, and was no doubt one great occasion,

of this vitiated Crasis and habit of Body (besides his Ague) was his excess of drinking, which he had accustomed himself, to, both before and at the beginning of his Ague. He found now an ugly Cough encrease upon his Lungs, with a constant ••aintness and Decay of Spirits: and whereas he was wont to be chearful, and easie on his intermitting Days, during the Continuance of his Ague, he is now constantly uneasie; his Appetite to his Food is quite obtunded, and a sensible decay of flesh dayly atttends him; he was likewise Afflicted with a Loosness, which sometimes was very Immoderate, he made a∣bundance of Water, and had a Diabetes upon him for 10 Weeks before I came to him; he perceived himself very Hot, especially in an Evening, about the Hands and Feet. He spit

very much, which was some∣times yellowish and discoloured; he had frequent Sweatings, e∣specially towards Morning, which much wasted and debilitated him; these Sweatings were oc∣casioned by nothing but the strenous endeavours of Nature, to thrust forth (her Enemies) those Venemous Particles thro her Sluces the Pores of the Bo∣dy: so a Diabetes or Profuse Pissing, that often happens in this Distemper, is occasioned by Natures endeavour to expel those Morbific Particles thro her Fludgates the Reins; so likewise a Diarrhea or Loosness is the striving of Nature to wash them away by the Latex or Serum, and send them forth thro the Guts. He had made use of several Eminent Physicians of Paris, who had frequent Consul∣tations about him, but from all their

Remedies he obtained no Relief what they had exhibited I know not, he having nothing left by him but an Aromatic Electua∣ry and the Relicts of a Linctus of Oyl of Almonds, mixt with some Pectoral Syrup. In these Circumstances I found him lan∣guishing at his Countrey-House, whither he had retired for the benefit of the Air, tho he re∣ceived but small relief by it: I resolved to take what course I thought might be most speedy and expeditious for his Recove∣ry, the time I had to stay with him being very short, my busi∣ness at London in the mean time being neglected, and I having promised a sudden re∣turn to several Patients there. I therefore first prescribed him our Golden Tincture, of which I gave him once in twelve hours a considerable Dose in a

Glass of our Restorative Liquor I likewise gave him Four Doses of our Restorative Flesh-coloured Powder every day, and once in three days I ordered a Dose of our Red Powder for his Loosness; in five days his Sweat∣ings and Diabetes cease, in eight days his Looseness left him, and his Feaver vanquished; then instead of the Powders I prescribed two Doses of our Grand Elixir every day, and a Pint of a nourishing and strengthning Gelly (not of Trot∣ters or Calves Feet) every Morning: His constant Drink was our Red Liquor, and some∣times a Draught of Goats Milk was allowed him, his Strength now excreased, and his Appetite became sharp, his Blood and Juices were renewed, and laudible: After this I pre∣cribed a Balsamic Pectoral Es∣sence,

and an Aetherial Tin∣cture; all which Medicines an∣swered my Intentions exactly, and were exhibited with great∣er success than I ever expected: for in eight days after I came to him, he was very brisk and cheerful, finding himself in much ease; he went then with me in his Coach to the City of Paris, conveyed me to the University, where several In∣genuous Scholars expressed their joy at the hopes of his Recovery, and were every ami∣cable and courteous to me: from thence he conducted me to the House of a Nobleman, where several of his Friends and Relations met him, and were not a little elevated at the great presumption and strong confidence they had of his fu∣ture Health, seeing him in so fair a prospect: In three or four

days after this, he went with me from Paris to Versaile, and honoured me so far, as to shew me the Splendor and Glory of the Kings Palace. Some few days after this he was able to Hunt, and found himself more refresh'd than tired with the moderate Exercise of Riding. I had not been quite a Month with him, but he was to all apprearance perfectly recovered, having not one bad Symptome upon him; and since my re∣turn to London, by a Letter from his own hand I am inform∣ed of the continuance of his Health. Thus I have briefly related this Case, and the rea∣son why I inserted it in this place, there being several o ther Cures hereafter mention'd which in the order of time pre∣ceded this, is because this came more fresh to my Memo∣ry

while scribling; neither is it a matter of any moment, to be so unnecessarily curious or ex∣actly methodic, as to pen these Cures down in that Order which they were performed in.

Observation the Third.

THe next memorable Case that occurs, Is of a Gentleman in Leicester Fields, who by an intemperate Course of Life, and immoderate Drinking, fell into a deep Consumption; a few Weeks ago, he sent for me from my Lodgings in the Pall Mall. I found him very low and weak, having been confined to his Bed for above three Months, and having a very sore Cough, with no small Feaver, spitting an extraordinary quantity of fetid yellow Matter, at least a pint

every Night; besides this he had profuse Sweatings, with an excessive Looseness; by all which Mortal Symptomes he was reduced to a meer Skele∣ton, only his Bones were wrapt in skin; he had not strength to sit upright in his Bed, nay he was so feeble that he could not turn himself; before I came he had advised with three Gale∣nic Physicians (one of which was my grand Enemy and Back∣biter) who after several Con∣sultations, prescribed variety of Medicines, as I perceived by the Apothecaries Shop upon the Table in the Chamber; there being all sorts of Nauseous Mix∣tures, Syrups, and strong Electu∣aries, with which the Nurse was ordered to cram him, almost every moment: But at last these Physicians finding their Reme∣dies ineffectual (as who could

imagine they would prove o∣therwise) were forc'd to leave him, and passing sentence up∣on him, they gave him over; likewise limiting his time, they said it was impossible he should live above three days. I finding him in this Condition, had like∣wise no hopes of doing him good, judging him in no pro∣bability of living many days. I therefore refused to meddle with him, acquainting his Friends and Relations that I deemed his Case very desperate; but yet no denial would satisfie their urgent desires of my un∣dertaking him, earnestly be∣seeching and intreating me, protesting by all that was sa∣cred and dear to them, that they would abundantly grati∣fie me whether he liv'd or dy'd, if I would but prescribe some∣thing for him, and only try

my Skill upon him; he himself likewise was restless till he saw me, and was possess'd with so strong a phansie I should do him good, that no Arguments could disswade him from that his set∣tled Opinion: I alledged that my undertaking would be a volun∣tary throwing of my own Repu∣tation at the Stake, and if he should die under my hands, which in all probability he would do, it would prove so great a Reflection upon me, that my Enemies would hereby have some ground to Censure and Back-bite me; but at last the constant urgency of their desires, and the commiseration I had to his Condition, over∣balanced this my Objection, grounded on nothing but my own Interest: I ventured to give him a Dose of a very safe Restorative Medicine, tho I

expected little or no success; the Neighbouring Apothecary who had compounded the Me∣dicines according to the Pre∣scriptions of the former Physicians, hearing that I had ex∣hibited something to him, very pleasantly laught at and de∣rided me, because I prescribed for him after such able Physici∣ans (which in his Apprehension were little god-a-mighties) had given him over. This Apothe∣cary having no small spleen a∣gainst me, because I prescribed to my own Apothecary, present∣ly run to his adored Doctor, one that constantly prescribed to his Shop, and told him I had been there, and ordered something for him that night. Whereupon the Doctor, as I am credibly informed, expres∣sed no small joy, not doubting but he should now have advan∣tage

enough against me, hear∣tily wishing (as it is easie to conjecture by these Circum∣stances) that the Patient would die under my hands: But it seems the event proved other∣wise; for the next Morning a Messenger came to my House at Brumpton, desiring me to ha∣sten to him, and that he long'd to see me. When I came, I found him strangely revived, whereat all his Relations were exhilerated and elevated with joy above measure or expression; this incouraged me to proceed in prescribing for him, I repeated a Dose of the same Medicine the next Night, which indeed was nothing but a Mixture of our Grand Elixir, and some drops of our Golden Tincture in a Glass of our Re∣storartive Liquor; the next day I found him still better,

to the confirmation of our joy, and no small discontent of my Enemies, especially the Cen∣sorious Doctor and Pragmatic Apothecary, who were con∣tinually listning and inquiring concerning our success. I now ordered him to drink freely of our Restorative Liquor, which being a very pleasant Drink, much pleased him; of this he drank a Quart or three Pints e∣very day: I continued him in this Method for three Weeks, in which time he gradually gathered strength, tho but slowly, yet in a Months time he was able to rise and walk a∣bout his Chamber; his Sweat∣ings continued still in some measure, and his Looseness was not gone. I then ordered him our altering Red Powder, and another pleasant Qualifying Medicine, which quite took off

the cause of his Looseness in ten days; his Sweatings also ceased. All this while his Cough troubled him, tho not with that vehemence which it did before; it being much easi∣er and his spitting not so abun∣dant, I now prescribed a dose of our Golden Tincture to be taken every four or five hours in the Restorative Drink. In eight or nine Weeks after I first under∣took him, he being able to ride, came to my House to see me, and can now both walk and ride about his occasions; having an indifferent habit of Body, tho he will never be perfectly cured, there being an Ulcer in his Lungs, which by reason of the constant motion of that part in respiration is rendered incurable; yet by the help of our Medi∣cines he may probably live se∣veral years. He still continues

in a Method of Physic under my hands, and I believe will so do to his dying day, so that I can not boast of this as a perfect Cure, yet I thought it necessary to relate it, it being as undeni∣able an argument to evince the true virtue and efficacy of our Antiphthisic Medicines, that they will patch, preserve, and in some measure restore a Man, when reduced to a Con∣dition beyond all hope, as well as perfectly restore those that make use of them in the beginning of this Malady; yet I must needs here confess that this Gentleman was in the worst Circumstances of any Patient I ever undertook that lived. If any question the truth of this Relation, upon their desire I will shew them the Gentleman, who with all his Relations, Friends, and Ac∣quaintance,

will attest the veri∣ty of what I have here faith∣fully related.

Observation the Fourth.

A Gentlemans Son in the City of London, about Ten years of Age, of a Melancholy Complexion,* 1.4 and thin Habit of Bo∣dy, Weak and Infirm from his very Cradle, having been sen∣sibly Consumptive about three Years, had an extream Cough, and was much emaciated; but his Parents consulting a very eminent Physician a near Relati∣on,* 1.5 who advising him Change of Air, and some particular Remedies, did in a great mea∣sure restore him; but he after∣wards

returning to London re∣lapsed, and his Distemper seized him more violently than before; the same Worthy and Ingenious Physician was again Consulted, who prescribed for him the same Remedies which formerly r••••eved him with the change of Air, but the expect∣ed success did not ensue; for his Cough increased daily, inso∣much that at last his Fits of Coughing were so frequent and violent, that he had hardly re∣spite to recover his Breath, but was black in the Face, and al∣most strangled several times in an hour; yea at last such was his Condition, that what∣soever he had eaten or drank for almost three Weeks time, was forced up again by the Mo∣tion of Coughing; he spit a∣bundance of White Viscid Elegm, which was very trou∣blesome

to him, by reason it was tough and roapy; he had a continual slow Feaver, fre∣quent Sweats, his Spirits were very low; in fine, he was much debilitated and emaciated: the mention'd Physician, whose Learning I honour, whose Per∣son and Works I much esteem and value, was so Ingenious as to tell his Parents, he thought his Distemper to have got so great an Empire over his Body, as that it could not be routed; at least, by any Re∣medies that he knew of or had experienced.

His Relations were much discouraged when the Doctor gave him over; but the tender Affections they beared towards him, made them still inquisi∣tive after some means, either to prolong his Life, or recover

him: hereupon they resove••d to leave no Stone unturn'd in pursuit of such a Design. It hapned ••••out his time that the Cure of Mr. Obrian was just perfected, the rumour of which, in a few days after I had presented him to the King, came to their Ears; at which they did not a little rejoyce, and with all expedition went to my Lodgings to enquire for me; but I was then in Devonshire, being called to a Person of Quality in that Country, who then laboured under the same Circumstances; but my stay was not long there, for leaving my Apothecary with him to administer what I prescribed; I came post to London; after I had been two Nights with him, at my return to London, they brought the Child to me in the Condition and Circumstances

already mentioned; the Mother with Pathetic Expressions of her Affection to him, and with Tears in her Eyes, related to me how his Distemper gradually came upon him, and what means had been administred; beseeching me to take all possi∣ble care of her Jewel (for so she call'd him) and to use all imaginable endeavours for his speedy recovery; which I pro∣mising to do, advised them to take Lodgings for him some∣where near my House, both by reason of the Air, and because I might see him often; he was accordingly placed at little Chelsey, where I attended him, and administred what I thought most requisite: The first thing I prescribed for him was a Dose of an Essential Balsamic Ex∣tract, which he took Night and Morning in the form of a

Bolus for five days together, which soon gave him much re∣lief, in abating the violence of his Cough; after this I ordered him three Doses of our White Alkalisate Powder every day in a Draught of our Red Resto∣rative Liquor, and now and then a Dose of our Grand E∣lixir, in an appropriated Vehi∣cle; also some few Grains of an Antifebrile Medicine dissolved in an apt Menstruum: His Fea∣ver by this means was gradual∣ly removed, he now began to Eat and Drink with some kind of Appetite, and what was in∣gested stay'd with him; his strength encreased, and a bet∣ter habit of Body attended him; after this I ordered a Mix∣ture, compounded of a rich Balsamic Tincture, Restorative Powders, and several sorts of Distill'd Waters, of which Mix∣ture

he drank freely every day: by all which Remedies in five or six Weeks time his Cough was quite removed, his Feaver vanished, his Appetite was sharpned, Digestion facilitated, all the Concoctions meliorated, his Strength and Flesh increased: In short, he now possest a bet∣ter State of Health than he had enjoy'd before for many years: I then restored him to his Pa∣rents perfectly recovered, to their exceeding joy and comfort, and he still remains vigorous and lusty at a School in Hert∣ford-shire; and whoever doubts of the truth of what is here ex∣posed to public view, may if they please inform themselves by Enquiry.

Observation the Fifth.

A House-keeper in Arundel Buildings in the Strand, of about Forty years of Age, of a Phlegmatic Temparament and Gross Habit of Body, com∣plained a long tome of a trouble∣some Stoppage at his Breast, which afterwards terminated in an inveterate Cough and an Ast∣matic Wheazing; he perceived constantly a Tickling Rheum fall upon his Lungs, hereby he was rendred feeble and unfit for business; in the Night he was always restless by reason of his Cough. Besides these Sym∣ptomes, he every day, for some years together, voided a consi∣derable number of strange Worms when he went to Stool, for which he had taken several

things, but nothing proved ef∣fectual to destroy them; they were about an inch and an half long, their colour was white and glistring, they would con∣tract and shoot forth their Bo∣dies with much Agility as soon as he voided them, but in a lit∣tle time they died: Thousands of these Animals came from his Bowels; which Worms I con∣jecture were generated of the same putrid Particles that occa∣sioned the other Symptomes: In this condition, he came to con∣sult me at my House at Brump∣ton; I first prescrib'd him our Grand Elixir, and our Flesh-coloured-Powder, which Medi∣cines alone in three Weeks time perfectly freed him from his Cough, straitness of Breast, shortness of Breath, and Whea∣zing; his Worms likewise came from him dead in great num∣bers;

after this, to exter∣minate and destroy these In∣sects, I ordered him a Brown Powder, two Doses of which he took every day, and like∣wise a particular Mixture eve∣ry Night, which within one Weed totally destroy'd the very Seed of these Vermin. Finally, because his Body was some∣what foul and gross, I order∣ed him a gentle Emetico-Cathar∣tic Powder, which scoured him both upwards and down∣wards, and clear'd him of all sorts of malign Morbific Parti∣cles; so that he now enjoys a good measure of Health, free from all the abobe-cited Mala∣dies.

Observation the Sixth.

THe next memorable obvious Case which I design to re∣late, Is of a poor Herds-man in France. I being at the House of a person of Quality near Paris, and the noise of my success there, striking the Ears of the Vulgar about the Neigh∣bourhood; a Farmers Wife came and begg'd me to go with her to see a poor Man at her House, whom they all judged dying: I yielded to her intrea∣ties, and went with her, but when I came to the House, I was denied entrance into the Room where the Sick-man lay, there being two Father Confes∣sors with him. I heard them whisper together a great while, and looking through the Crack of the Door, I saw one of them

with a Dish of Cold Water in his hand, sprinkle the Face and Body and Hands of the Sick Person; at last I heard one of them say to him in Latin these words, Deus te absolvat, & ego te absolvo: Let God ab∣solve thee, and I absolve thee. I had now waited above an hour with much patience, and when I heard the Absolution pronounced I thought they had done, but they still continued with him; at which I told the people of the House the Mans Condition being in all probabi∣lity disperate, that their so long continuance with him might prevent the applying of such Remedies as at that in∣stant were necessary, and so consequently occasion his death: whereupon I with some vio∣lence thrust open the Door, and with some boldness, in

Latin told these Capuchin Fa∣thers, That instead of saving him, they took the readiest course to ruin him. They hereupon immediately left their Devotion, but told me, He was a dead man, 'twas in vain to meddle with him.

The Condition I found him in was this, He having accu∣stomed himself to lie upon the ground to watch Cattle, here∣by took an extraordinary Cold, the Frigorific Particles from the damp Earth penetra∣ting his Skin, and mixing themselves with his Blood and Juices, occasioned these dire Affects; for the endeavour of Nature to expel these nu∣merous unwelcome Guests, was brought upon him a great Looseness and Vomiting, a tedious Cough, attended with a desperate Peri-Pneumonià,

which is an Inflamation of the Lungs; insomuch that thro the violence of the Cough, the con∣stancy of straining to Vomit, and the acuteness of the Inflamation, he was often almost strangled; they had let him Blood twice, which gave him some ease for the present; but the same Sym∣ptomes returned more impetu∣ously in some hours after Bleeding.

When I came to him his strength was almost spent, his Pulse very unequal, sometimes scarce perceivable; the pain of his Breast intolerable, his Breath so short, that those that saw him panting, judged him de∣parting; his straining to Vomit continued almost without cea∣sing: Considering all these Circumstances, I expected not his life, but being willing to endeavour to ease him, I or∣dered

a large Cupping Glass to be immediately applied to the pit of his Stomach, which no sooner was it fastned, but it kept down his Stomach, and so stopt that Motion to Vomit: I ordered him half a score Gli∣sters of nothing but Chicken Broath to be injected one after another, so that as soon as one came away, another was given him; hereby these pungent Particles in the Guts which crea∣ted his Looseness, were diluted and wash'd away, and his Loose∣ness then ceased; I likewise or∣dered him a Powder, which I suc∣cessfully use in Peri-pneumonia's Pleurisies, Quinsies, and such like Imflamations; continuing all this time the Cucurbitula at his Stomach; all these Remedies succeeded beyond expectation, for his Looseness being taken a∣way by the Glysters, his Vo∣miting

by the Cupping Glass, and his Inflamation by the Powder, he was now in great Ease, tho very weak and saint: I now prescribed a Cordi∣al Mixture to refresh him, and a Dose of our Grand Elixir, of which I hapned to have a little Glass in my pocket, and so left him; the next day I found him much cheered and revived, his Cough was very easie which before was painful, and he spit a great quantity of thick digested Matter with much pleasure. I ordered him to take more of our Elixir, and prescribed another Mixture for him, and so left him in a very hopeful way of Recovery; and tho in two days after this, I came from thence for Eng∣land, yet I do not much questi∣on but by this time he is per∣fectly recovered.

Observation the Seventh.

THis puts me in mind of one more Observation upon a Tradesmans Wife at Paris. She was about Fifty years of Age; had been long troubled with an Astma and extream Shortness of Breath, with a gradual falling away of her flesh; these Astmatic Paroxisms came upon her three or four times every day, in which Fi∣she coughed so extreamly, that her Face and Hands were ren∣dred black; I gave her a little Glass of our Grand Elixir, and a few Doses of a curious Preparation of Sulphur, order∣ing her to take twenty Drops of the Elixir every Night in a Glass of warm Milk, and a Dose of the other Preparati∣on

every Morning in a little Marmalade; and tho I stay there but five days after I had given her these things, yet the day before I departed, she sent me a Gratuity, acquaint∣ing me that she had not had one Fit of Coughing since the first Dose she took: and that her Breath was strangely re∣lieved: I ordered her to con∣tinue in the same Method, and I hope by this time those per∣plexing Symptomes have quite left her.

A young Virgin likewise at Paris almost in the same con∣dition, was relieved by the same Medicines.

Observation the Eighth.

A Gentleman at Westminster a bout 36 years a Age, of a Choleric Complexion and

lean Habit of Body, had been long troubled with a Looseness and faint Sweatings, was con∣stantly hot aad feaverish, he had little or no Cough, but was much wasted and weakned; he came to me, and desired my Assistance in order to his Reco∣very, upon which Request I ordered him to take a Dose of our Antifrebile extract thrice a day in about six spoonfuls of an altering Mixture; by which Medicines alone in twen∣ty days time his Feaver was wholly taken off, his Loose∣ness stayd, and his faint Sweats ceased; he is now be∣come Strenuous and Ro∣bust, and enjoys his former Sanity.

Observation the Ninth.

A Person in Covent Garden of a Choleric Complexion, a∣bout 30 years of Age had for several years been de-clining in a Consumption, and was at last reduced to little more than Skin and Bones; he spit great quantities of fetid yellow Matter, and coughed almost perpetually, being very disconso∣late about his Condition, and having tryed several Physicians to no purpose; he at last came to me, beseeching me to un∣dertake him; he told me he had taken several sorts of Syr∣rups, Lohoch's, Eclegms, Balsoms, and Electuaries, but received not the least benefit from any of them. I told him I expected not to cure him, be∣cause the Matter he spit being

faetid, argued an Vlcer in his Lungs, but I would endeavour to give him ease, and preserve his life; to which end I pre∣scribed him a Correborating Confection of a Scarlet Colour; I likewise ordered him sixteen drops of our Grand Elixir eve∣ry Night; and by this means in five Weeks time, he was re∣duced to a good Habit of Body; his Cough was much mended, and that which he spit not so discoloured; he now became brisk and cheerful, and is at this time in a probable way of living many years, tho I cannot say sound or recovered.

Observation the Tenth.

A Tradesman at Lewis in Sussex having Married a Consumptive Wife;* 1.6 after he

had lived some few years with her, fell into the same Distem∣per; she having consulted all the Physicians in those parts without any success, at last yield∣ed to the dire Symptomes of that Malady, and departed this Life; her surviving Hus∣band, not withstanding his be∣ing now freed from the Conver∣sation of her, whose Contagi∣gious Body gave him the Infecti∣on, still declined: he advised with an Emi∣nent and Learn∣ed Physician in that Town,* 1.7 and likewise with an illiterate Preten∣der there;* 1.8 but found no Appa∣rent Relief from the Prescripti∣ons of either; at last they both gave him over, and he himself expected nothing but his last E∣nemy to seize him; his Circum∣stances were such, that his

Strength failed him, his Sleep had left him, his Cough per∣plex'd him, faint Sweats fre∣quently attended him, his Voice was very hoarse, and his Breast sore and straitned; his Breath exceeding short, his Flesh quite wasted, his Countenance an exact Facies Hippocratica, so that indeed he was hardly a Breathing Ghost, and far enough from a walking Spectrum, be∣ing scarce able to stand: He being in this Condition about two year ago sent for me to see him, an Empiric in the Town, that had been tampering with him, hearing of it, declared, That if I ever set him upon his Legs (to use his Expression) he would forfeit his whole Study of Books, which he said cost him Ten Pounds; but how the Medicaster was out in his Prog∣nostic's, the sequel of this Ob∣servation

will manifest; for the first Dose that I ordered him, put a stop to all those dreadful Symptomes that before seemed to be the immediate Messengers of Death and the Scene was now wholly inverted, for the next Morning I found him chearful and pleasant, who before was pining and dejected. His Relations were now fill'd with hopes and presumption of his life; who before had di∣spairingly resign'd him▪ I pro∣ceeded in prescribing the same Dose for him the next Night, and accordingly the ensuing Morning I found him still more revived and strengthned; I now ordered him a Suffi••us com∣pounded of several Engredients in a gross Powder, a little of which I ordered to be strewed upon a Chafing Dish of live Coals, and with a Funnel I or∣dered

him to receive the Bal∣samic Fume or Smoak that ascended, into his Lungs with his Breath, covering the Coals with the great end of the Fun∣nel, and holding the little end in his Mouth, and so by Inspi∣ration draw in, and receive those wholsome healing Parti∣cles: I ordered him the use of this twice a day, from which he soon found sensible benefit; I likewise ordered him a sort of small Ale to be brewed with se∣veral Ingredients, and a Pecto∣ral Balsamic Mixture: By the frequent use of which Remedies, I had so far patch'd him in one Month, that I might have law∣fully challenged the Ten Pound Library; I should then have been furnished with Culpeppers English Dispensatory, his Mid∣wife, his Legacy, his Transla∣tion of Riverius, and perhaps

his Translation of Veslmgius's Anatomy; I should likewise have had Salmon's English Dispensatory, his Synopsis, and his Doron Medicum, and almost a hundred more English Receipt Books, out of which I might have pick'd Recipe's enough to cure all the Horses in England▪

For now the Patient had gain'd such a measure of Strength, that he was able to walk about the Town, and ride three or four Miles at at time; his Cough was much mitigated, his Breath lengthned, and his Breast eased; his Muscles plumped and enlarged, his Rest and Sleep composed, his Appe∣tite sharpned: Himself and Re∣lations not a little transposed with joy and hopes. I still or∣dered him Medicines of the same Nature, in which method he

persisted a Week or two longer, and then found himself so invi∣gorated, that he thought it needless to take any thing more, and therefore desired me to de∣sist; hereupon because he might not suspect that my Design in continuing him in that course and method, was to squeez his Pocket, as many Patients are apt to mistrust their Physici∣ans of such a design, I accord∣ingly desisted; and tho I knew there was an absolute necessity of his persisting in this course and method, his Lungs being putrified and exulcerated, re∣quired constant and continual patching; yet such was my temper, that I hated to expose my self to the censure of such base pecuniary Intentions: But in five Weeks after this, that which I fore-saw and expected, hapned; for by his riding upon

those Downs, and walking out in the cool Evenings, such Bo∣dies being very obnoxious to the injury of Cold; he relap∣sed, and all the former Sym∣ptomes returned: I was now again sent for, and intreated to use my skill and endeavour to restore him; to which pur∣pose I repeated the former Re∣medies with some small altera∣tions, which again so far reco∣vered him, as to enable him to walk abroad or ride as before: But still the Purse being disgust∣ed, grumbled at parting with Fees, and paying the Apothe∣caries Bills, so that the Patient being possest that he should do very well without the constant use of those Restoratives which before kept him alive, dismist me a second time, and instead of living according to prescript∣ion, nothing would please his

Pallat but Salt Beef, Pork, Red Herrings, Neats Tongues, Bacon, Cabbage, and the most unwholsome Food he could in∣vent, he always phansied; par∣ticularly one Night he Invited some of his Relations to Supper with him, when sitting up very late, he cramm'd his Stomach with a large quantity of Salt Roast Beef, where with his Blood was immediately surfeited, and the next Morning a high Feaver enflamed his whole Body, and now all the cited Symptomes return with impetuous violence. I was now a third time sent for, but too late; for when I came I found him panting upon the Bed, unable to stir or speak: I ordered him a high Restorative Cordial, but all in vain, so that in a few hours, his Breath be∣ing so extream short, and his Spirits and Strength quite ex∣hausted,

he died; his Relati∣ons were all satisfied that his days were shortned by his own neglect.

From the time of my com∣ing to him to the time of his Death, it was a whole year; all which time he was kept alive meerly by Art, and he might probably have been alive to this day, had not his careless∣ness (I would not willingly mention Covetousness) been his ruin. If any mistrusts the truth of what is here mentioned, his surviving Brother and other Relations novv in the same Tovvn were Eye-witnesses of e∣very thing here related, and cannot but attest it.

Observation the Eleventh.

THe Case I have last menti∣oned re-minds me of a Cure since performed upon a Consumptive Body in the same Town, which was as follows: About Sixteen Months ago a Shop-keeper in Lewis,* 1.9 Twenty three years of Age, of a brisk sanguine Com∣plexion, by inordinate heating his Blood, drinking while hot, and too suddenly cooling himself, got an extraordinary Surfeit, which terminated in a very A∣cute Pleurisie. He was then at his Fathers House at New Ha∣ven, about five Miles from Lew∣is, whither he sent for Dr. White an eminent and ingenious Physician in that Town, who

ordered a considerable quantity of blood to be detracted from his Arm; but his Pleurisie not being quelled by the first Lance, he ordered Phlebotomy to be repeated, and took away seve∣ral Ounces more from him; he was a third time let blood: At last the Inflamation ceased, and the Pleurisie left him, but by the profuse quantity of Blood, which he lost in so short a time, he was much debilitated, and that Blood which remain'd in his Veins and Arteries was so de∣pauperated, that it was alto∣gether unable to free it self from those Heterogeneous Par∣ticles it had imbibed in the Surfeit; so that the Mass of Blood still remain'd impure, the Concoctions depraved, and his Appetite obtunded; several altering Medicines were judici∣ously prescribed, but nothing

help'd him, he still grew weaker, fainter, and leaner, and instead of Agility, encrease of Strength and Appetite, a slow Feaver crept gradually upon him, so that three Months were spent in following the Prescripti∣ons of this Physician, without any success (unless in reference to the Pleurisie) at last a Neigh∣bouring Gentleman, Uncle to the Patient, asked the Doctor his real thoughts of him; his an∣swer was, That he had no hopes of his Life, but did be∣lieve that he would die in a lit∣tle time. I mention this not in the least to reflect on the Do∣ctor, but only to evidence the apparent danger the Patient was in; hereupon by the desire of the Sick Person, with the con∣sent and advice of his Friends, Neighbours, and Relations, I was sent for; I found him in a

very deplorable Condition, and was the more discouraged, be∣cause his Uncle told me that Dr. White (whom I knew to be a Person of excellent Skill and Success) judged him desperate: His Pulse was very quick, but languid; he had a great Catarrh and a very bad Cough, which came upon him by Fits, in a most violent and impetuous manner; he was emaciated in every part of his Body, and that which was the most dis∣couraging Symptome, was his Urine was almost as black as Ink: But notwithstanding all these discouragements which might have justly deterred me from undertaking him, by the prevalence of his own and his Relations Intreaties, I was per∣swaded to endeavour his Cure: I ordered him a Mixture of some Drops of our Golden Tin∣cture

and our Grand Elixir, in a proper Vehicle every Night, which soon stopt his Catarrh; I likewise prescribed him three or four Doses of our Flesh-colour∣ed Powder every day to be ta∣ken in a Mixture prepared on purpose; I also enjoyn'd him to drink of our Red Restorative Liquor, with some Balsamic drops in it; for his constant Drink, forbidding him the use of Beer or Ale; by this method he was perfectly restored in five Weeks time: For his Water was now reduced to a laudible consistence and its wonted co∣lour, his Flesh was much en∣creased; a fresh Colour was now seen in his Cheeks, which be∣fore were covered with paleness; his Feaver was quite banished, and his Blood brought to a good Diathesis; and that which is most observable, is that, tho he

before had frequent Fits of Coughing, and that with such vehemence, that sometimes he could hardly recover his breath; yet from the time he took the first Dose I ordered for him, to the final perfection of his Cure, he had but one of these Fits, and that too was ve∣ry merciful and moderate: He is now grown very Fat, and remains brisk and lively to this day; as any jealous minded or scrupulous persons may inform themselves by Inquiry.

Observation the Twelfth.

A Young Virgin of the same Town, who had strange Epileptic and Convulsive Fits, which were conjectured to be the Effects of Love, was by the continuance of these Fits

reduced to a Marasmus, attended with a Feaver and large Sweat∣ings; she was at last wasted to a perfect Skeleton, and had no Appetite to supply Nature with Nourishment. The Empi∣rical Quack-Salver which I mentioned in the Tenth Obser∣vation, came and administred Physic to her, making use of his blind Receipts, but without any success or ad∣vantage; for she found after the use of his Medicines a vio∣lent pain in her Head, accom∣panied the other Symptomes; when I first saw her I had little hopes of her life, but she found such Relief by the first Dose I prescribed her, that I was in∣couraged to proceed, which I accordingly did, and by keep∣ing her in a strict method of such Remedies as I judged ex∣actly to answer her Malady, I

perfectly cured her in two Moneths, and tho when I first saw her, she appeared deform∣ed by reason of leanness, yet af∣terwards she became a fresh co∣loured beautiful Virgin; and she now remains a living Testi∣mony of what is here related.

Observation the Thirteenth.

The next is an Account of a Cure performed since my return from France, which was thus:

An eminent Merchant in Lon∣don, about Sixty years of Age, having been always addicted to Catarrhs, being of a Phlegmatic Constitution or Temperament, upon a great Cold acquired an extraordinary Catarrh which en∣creasing upon him, created a great soreness at his Breast, with a very tedious Cough, at

last a Feaver; Faintness, want of Appetite, and a falling away of his flesh, accompanied his Ca∣tarrh; he had all along used a Linctus of Oyl of Almonds and Diacodium, whereby he had formerly found benefit, of this he frequently lick'd, using a Li∣quorish Stick, but he found not the same success as before; he was then advised to take Ma∣thews Pill, not by any Physician, he having been always averse to a Doctor; this Pill having Opi∣um in its Composition stopt his Catarrh, but made him extream Drowsie, and so clogg'd him up that he could hardly breath. The use of which hereupon he left off, and Drank of the Pectoral Decoction which he had made for him in the house, he have∣ing got the Receipt from some old Woman or Receipt-monger; but his Catarrh returned and

fixed a hoarsness upon him: at last his voice was scarce audible, and all the mention'd Symptomes were now at their highest Ebbe; his Relations all perswaded him to send for a Physician, he there∣upon resolved to send for me. I being then in France, but ex∣pected every day, he concluded to stay till I returned, and would hear of no other; having a strong fancy I would cure him; at my return I went to see him, and was discouraged at his Age; but finding his Case not appa∣rently desperate, I undertook him: I ordered him first our Grand Elixir in a Glass of a particular distill'd VVater, with thirty drops of a Balsamic Tin∣cture, which dose the very first night gave him great ease and very much lessened that defluxi∣on of Rheum called a Catarrh. The next morning I prescribed

for him a large Dose of our Red Gelly, which was repeated for three or four Mornings; after that he took a Dose of our Alka∣lizate Powder thrice a day in three or four spoonfuls of proper Julap; his water now which was high coloured, became altered, and had a very good Sediment, his Cough and Tickling every day declined, his strength en∣creased, and by the continuance of this Method he is now almost recovered; and notwithstanding his Age, being much mended both as to his Cough, Tickling, Hoars∣ness, Fainting, Shortness of Breath, and whatsoever Sym∣ptomes of the like Nature.

Observation the Fourteenth.

AT Tradesman in Southwark, about Thirty years of Age of a very Melancholic Tempera∣ment; fell into a Marasmus, which was occasioned not by any intemperance or disorder in living, his converse having always been among sober Per∣sons, and his course of life ve∣ry moderate; but as it may pro∣bably be conjectured by some particular passages and circum∣stances which I observed (by reason of which I forbear to mention his Name) this Malady was occasioned by some Men∣tal Dolour, by reason of Crosses; it being most certain and ob∣servable that great Intenseness of Mind arising from perplexing Cares, are very prejudicial to the

Sanity of Mans Body: He was much fallen away in his Flesh, troubled with great Sweatings and Weakness in his Limbs, tho he had little or no Cough; his Appetite to Food as well as his Strength and Flesh, was daily diminished: He first advised with an ancient Physician in London, whose method and inten∣tions to recover him I will not censure, neither will I condemn the Medicines he ordered him as ineffectual, yet so it hapned, that after he had continued some time under his hands, he re∣solved to leave this Physician and consult me; whom when I saw in the Condition above de∣scribed, I advise ••o take Lodg∣ings at Kensington, where by the constant use of our Restora∣tive Liquor and our Flesh-co∣loured Powder, he recovered in one Month, and returned

to his own House in a compe∣tent measure of Health; ha∣ving acquired much Strength; and a very keen Appetite: his Faintness and Sweatings quite ceasing.

Observation the Fifteenth.

A Person of Qualities Child, about two years of Age, had from its very Birth been fre∣quently surprized with Spasm's or Convulsive Fits, and was at last hereby so much weakned, and emaciated, that it was not expected to live many days; but after several Physicians had en∣deavoured to relieve the poor Babe, by prescribing it Cephalic Plaisters to be applied to the Feet, Blisters to the Neck and behind the Fars, Oyl of Amber to anoint the Temples, Spirit

and Tincture of Castor, Spirit of Sal Armoniac and Harts horn, and Compound Spirit of Lavender, to be taken in Black Cherry Water, with other things of the like Nature, without any success or benefit; by some few Doses of our Antepi∣leptic Powder, one or Two Doses of our Brisk Elixir, not only the Fits left it, but also the other Symptomes in a short time va∣nished, and the Child became as healthful and thriving as if its tender Body had never un∣derwent the rigor of painful Spasms.

Observation the Sixteenth.

I Was lately called to another Child about the same Age, that fell unhappily into the Rickets when it was but Six

Months old, and was so cruel∣ly handled by this unmerciful Disease, that its Spine or Back∣bone was Inflected, its Breast was sharp and straitned, its Leggs crooked; it had a great Cough, difficulty of Breathing, and a constant Looseness: and by reason of the Spinal Marrows being affected, and the whole Nervosum Ge∣nus, according to Famous Dr. Glisson, an unequal distributi∣on of Nourishment is hereby caused, and certainly from an 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or improportionate Nutrition, nothing can result but extream leanness and pover∣ty of Spirits; and altho this Distemper be properly termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, The Rickets, yet it is more than probable that a con∣firmed Rickets is a perfect Tabes or Consumption; an Ex∣ample of which is the present

Case; for altho the original Ma∣lady was the Rickets, yet that this terminated in a Phthisis or Consumption, the mentioned Symptomes are a sufficient Manifesto: The Parents of this Child had consulted two or three Physicians, who prescrib∣ed an Issue in the Neck, Gly∣sters, Ligatures, Powders, Apozems, and a Diet Drink, Frictions and Ʋnguents; but all proved unsuccessful, the Cause being laid too deep to be routed by these superficial Re∣medies; after this the Parents were desirous I should try if I had any Medicines powerful enough to extirpate the Cause of this Disease, whereupon I ordered for it some of our Bal∣samic Drops to qualifie its Cough, and a White Powder dissolv'd in Milk to facilitate Distribution; I likewise pre∣scribed

a strengthning Ʋnguent wherewith to anoinr its Back and Breast, Belly and Joynts, at least twice a day; and by the continuance of these means, and the help of Nature assisting each other, it out-grew all those dire Symptomes, and was in less than two Months freed both from the Rickets and Consumption.

Observation the Seventeenth.

A Young Lady in the City of London, having an Here∣ditary Phthisis, her Parents and Relations having been al∣ways addicted to this Distemper, and she likewise from her very Cradle upon the least alteration of Weather, finding her Body alter accordingly; in Winter Coughing and Spitting abun∣dantly,

the last Summer got a great Surfeit, whether by eating Fruit, raw Sallads, &c. or by over-heating her self in Walking, or taking Cold, I know not; but she hereupon fell into a very desperate Con∣dition, her Cough, which before was usually very moderate in the Summer, was now sudden∣ly become untameable; fre∣quent Faintings and Swoon∣ings, great Sweatings, a con∣stant pain at the Stomach, and an almost intollerable pain in her Head, a Swelling in her Belly, difficulty of Breathing, and a sensible decay of Flesh, all at once surprized her, I having before cured a near Relation of hers, she forthwith resolved to cast her self, into my hands without the least thoughts of consulting any other Physici∣an according to her request,

I took her in hand, I found her very exact, strict, and re∣gular in taking what I order∣ed for her; and tho she always had an Aversion to Medicines, tho never so pleasant, yet now being sensible of her danger, and valuing the sweetness of Life, she relying on my endea∣vours, became very punctual and observing, and accordingly both her expectation and mine were fully answered, for by the use of our Scarlet Restora∣tive Confection, our Alkalizate Powder, our Balsamic Drops, and our Grand Elixir; she was in six Weeks time restored to her wonted state of Health, and is like so to continue, tho she must expect her Cough in some measure every Winter during her Life, by reason it is Here∣ditary.

Observation the Eighteenth.

A Gentleman at the Court, that had a sore Phthisical Cough for many years, spit∣ing large quantities of foul dis∣coloured matter, complaining of great shortness of Breath and Faintness, was relieved in six Weeks time by our Corrobora∣ting Confection and Golden Tin∣cture, and is now in good Health, and ready to testifie the same.

Observation the Nineteenth.

THere are several more Ob∣servations of the like na∣ture which I could nominate, but I hope these may be suffici∣ent to convince any judicious unprejudiced person of the Ver∣tue and Efficacy of our Prepara∣tions.

I shall therefore in the Epilogue of this Tract only mention the Case of a Patient now under my hands, to whom I was but last Week sent for to visit.

A Young Gentleman in Trini∣ty Parish in Cambridge, who from a Child had been inclina∣ble to this Distemper, but then in a desperate Condition, hearing of my success in these Cases desired his Father in Law, a Reverend Divine in Cam∣bridge, to Write his Case and send it me to know my Opini∣on of him, who accordingly did it in the words that follow:

SIR,

THe Person is between One and Two and Twenty years of Age: He was from his Cradle very Tender,

and always subject to Catarrhs and Colds, and a Wheazing in his Wind-pipe usually accompanied them when he lay in his Bed. He is of a melan∣choly and timerous Nature, reserved and thoughtful, and his Mind seemeth to have prey∣ed upon his Body, for this later was always lean and emaci∣ated; the straightness of his Breast contributeth naturally to his shortness of Breath, with which he is much trou∣bled, especially when he stirs. A Cold seized on him the last March, and with that, a great Cough, which hath continued ever since, and cannot be re∣moved by any Medicines he

hath made use of. This hin∣ders his sleep in the Nights, together with the disturbance of his Spirits by Melancholly Fumes. He is very Heavy and Dull in the day time, and yet he cannot improve this drow∣siness into a Sleep. After Din∣ner this Heaviness takes place chiefly, and he finds his Head loaded and clogged: Then likewise he feels Gripings and Gnawings in the hole of his Stomach, it is probable by reason of Wind; for upon Belching he findeth Ease, and so he doth when he breaks Wind downward: He can eat nothing but Flesh-Meat, as Mutton, Veal,

Chicken, &c and he finds that other things, as Broaths, disagree with him. He eat∣eth the former with a pretty good Appetite, but he is ill allt he Afternoon ensuing. The corners of his Mouth are bro∣ken out and are sore, and the skin of his Tongue hath been off, or his Tongue hath been sore and tender, and very red ever since his Cough seized on him. He is Hectical, and burneth most towards the E∣vening, but some part of the day he is also Chill and Shi∣vering. The other Circum∣stances of his Distemper are such as these, his Ʋrine is high coloured; and comes

from him always with a great Sediment. He is very Lax∣ative, and goes to Stool twice or thrice a day or more: He hath had a Hoarsness ever since his Illness, and of late it is increased: He is more lean and wasted in his Flesh than he was before. The Flegm that he raiseth is generally of a yel∣lowish colour: His Limbs are weak and feeble, and he ca∣reth not for stirring from the place where he sitteth. About a Month ago his Ankles began to swell, and they continue to do so still at Night, and the Flesh is soft and dented, but the Swelling goes down in the Morning.

I having read his Case, would not venture to prescribe any thing for him at such a distance; upon which they wrote again to me to desire me to come down to Cambridge with all possible speed; I immediately took Post, and when I came to him, I found him in such a de∣sperate Condition that I expect∣ed not his Life three days; I acquainted his Father in Law and others with my Opinion, who were satisfi'd that it was in vain to prescribe any thing for him; but the Mother whose Affections were more than or∣dinary passionate towards this her only Child, desired me to endeavour to give him some Relief: I being willing to grati∣fie her, prescribed for him some Drops of our Grand Elix∣ir at Night, and about half a Pint of our Red Strengthning

Gelly the next Morning and Af∣ternoon; I stay'd two days with him, forbidding him to drink Beer or Ale, and con∣fining him to Milk and Water. Before I left him, I found some small Amendment, his Loose∣ness which he had in a great measure when I came to him, was abated, and he was some∣what refreshed; but yet i had little or no hopes of his living many days: I returned to Lon∣don, leaving the same things with them, which I ordered them to give him: At my re∣turn to London I wrote to his Father in Law acquainting him that I did dispair of his Life, but for the satisfaction of his tender Mother, from whom I was forced to keep my Opinion, I desired them to continue him in this Method.

In Answer to my despairing

Letter I had in three or four days this following Answer.

SIR,

WE received yours, and thank you for remembring us; but when you say in the Close there is very small hopes or probabi∣lity of Recovery; you forget what I told you: Those words have almost kill'd them both. I pray by pleased in your next to add a Dose of Com∣fort, and truly there may be some reason for it, for his Looseness and Cough are both much abated, and he sleeps far better than he did, but is still very Hoarse

and Dispirited sometimes, so that you must speedily send him a Cordial; I hope your fears and depair of him will vanish, and beyond your ex∣pectation he will get up a∣gain: However you have Sir some Incouragement, seeing these Indications above-named are ceased, which is a considerable progress; you have some ground to send him a cheering Word, which I desire you would not for∣get, because he must needs see your Letter: I pray write too morrow, if you can possibly, and order him what you think fit, suit some∣thing to his present

Temper and Disposition.

Sir, Nothing more at pre∣sent, but that we wish you success in your Ʋndertaking, which if it prove prosperous; will be great Credit to your self, and Comfort to Mr. L's Relations, especially to

Sir, Your Humble Servant J. E.

By this Epistle I was not a little surpriz'd, the Contents of it being so much beyond my hopes or expectation: they had before advised with the best and most Learned Physici∣ans of that University, but he

found no benefit by all their Prescriptions, yet at the very last, when all probability of re∣covery was past, all hopes ended, and surprizing Death expected, he found more Re∣lief and Comfort by these our Medicines, than by any thing in the World besides; which hath a little incouraged me to proceed, so that there shall be no means, care or diligence wanting on my side, in order to his Recovery, much less expect.

I design'd not to puiblsh this Observation, yet this small A∣mendment and Progress to∣ward Recovery, being so abun∣dantly beyond Expectation, it hapning while the other Obser∣vations were in the Press, I ventured the exposing my self to the Censure of Impertinence

in relating it; which altho the Young Gentleman shall not recover (as I cannot believe he will) yet what I have here mentioned concerning him, is as great a Manifesto of the real Vertue of our Medi∣cines and Efficacy of the describ∣ed Method, as any of the pre∣ceding Observations.

From my House at Brumpton near Knightsbridge November 12th 1682.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  See Boyle of Colours.
• * 1.2

  Boyle's Scepti∣cal Chymist.
• * 1.3

  Dr. Sidenham De Morbis Acutis.
• * 1.4

  Mr. John Ether∣son an Attorney in Sithes-lane.
• * 1.5

  Dr. Demon in Covent Garden.
• * 1.6

  Mr. John Warts Linnen Draper.
• * 1.7

  Dr. Benjamin White.
• * 1.8

  Mr. H. P.
• * 1.9

  Mr. Edward Burten-shaw Woollen Draper.